Deep Blue Sea: Dubnyk retires

The road to the San Jose Sharks rebuilding the goaltending pipeline was full of unexpected choices, and I can’t blame you if you also forgot that Devan Dubnyk played 17 games for the team in 2021. The 36-year-old announced his retirement from playing professional hockey on Oct. 29.

A first-round draft selection (14th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004, Dubnyk’s playing career was full of ups and downs. Once incorporated into the Oilers’ line-up in 2009, he was quickly tasked with starting duties and provided solid play in net. A single season of struggle however, saw him briefly shipped to the Nashville Predators in 2014.

He signed with the Arizona Coyotes as a free agent that off-season, posting a 9-5-2 record and .918 save percentage (SV%) in 19 games on a team that finished seventh in the Pacific. The bounceback allowed for the Coyotes to scoop a third-round draft pick from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for the netminder.

His career saw a resurgence in St. Paul, where at times, he was part of a three-goaltender merry-go-round on the inconsistent Wild. He posted career numbers in the 39 games he played with the Wild to close out the rest of that season, including a 27-9-2 record, .936 SV% and 1.78 goals-against average. Unfortunately, the good times wouldn’t last and Dubnyk’s final year with the club showcased some of his worst hockey.

In Oct. 2020, the Sharks acquired the goaltender and a second-round draft pick, sending a seventh-round draft pick back to Minnesota, who retained half of Dubnyk’s salary. The then 11-year NHL veteran was a stopgap solution for the team’s goaltending troubles and was ultimately dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the Trade Deadline, as they shored up for a playoff run.

When his contract was up at the end of the season, he did not sign with another NHL team. Last season, Dubnyk was briefly signed to a professional tryout agreement with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, appearing in four games for the club.

HIs 12-year career includes winning a Masterton Trophy (2015), three NHL All-Star Game appearances (2016, 2017, 2019), one ECHL All-Star appearance (2007), being a Vezina finalist (2015), winning a Spengler Cup (2012) and winning a Gold Medal at the 2006 World Juniors Championship.

Dubnyk is now an analyst for NHL Network.

News & Notes

• San Jose Sharks’ third period collapse leads to another frustrating loss [The Mercury News]
• Sharks Dominate, But Lose in Shootout Again [San Jose Hockey Now]
• Adam Henrique rescues Ducks in shootout victory over Sharks [Los Angeles Times]
• Each NHL team’s biggest concern a month into the 2022-23 season, from ‘everything’ to ‘too good to tank’ [The Athletic]
• NHL Power Rankings: Shuffling all over, plus one guy we like on every team [The Athletic]/

Blood in the Water

• Alex Ovechkin sets NHL record for most goals with one team [ESPN]
• The NHL’s Ottawa Senators Are Officially For Sale [Forbes]
• Senators announce process of selling team has begun [NHL.com]
• Wells makes NHL debut [ECHL]
• No. 1 Michigan hockey blanked in Big Ten opener [MLive]
• Everything in Retrospect: Revisiting The Eichel-Tuch Trade, One Year Later [Die By The Blade]
• Carter Hart is singlehandedly making the Flyers appear competitive [Broad Street Hockey]/

Recaps & Scores

• New York Islanders 0, Detroit Red Wings 3
• Colorado Avalanche 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
• Chicago Blackhawks 0, Winnipeg Jets 4
• Dallas Stars 6, Edmonton Oilers 2
• Arizona Coyotes 3, Washington Capitals 2
• Boston Bruins 1, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
• Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 5
• Philadelphia Flyers 2, Ottawa Senators 1
• Seattle Kraken 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
• Vegas Golden Knights 6, Montreal Canadiens 4
• Nashville Predators 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (SO)
• New Jersey Devils 4, Calgary Flames 3 (OT)
• Anaheim Ducks 5, San Jose Sharks 4 (SO)
• Florida Panthers 4, Los Angeles Kings 5/

Click on a team name to find a recap on their SB Nation site!

On the Schedule

• Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers, 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET on SN360, MSG, BSDET, ESPN+
• Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET on ESPN, TVAS, TSN4
• Florida Panthers at Anaheim Ducks, 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on NHLN, SN, BSSC, BSFL/